Road Trip – Chapter 2 – The More the Merrier
Wow! Thank you all so much for the reviews! I was blown away. Here is the next chapter. Sorry I couldn't get it up even faster, but you know how school goes. Thanks so much for reading! I hope you like this chapter. They should be at their destination in the next chapter. And oh do I have something special planned for that!
Oh, and just in case there is any confusion as to who Sam will be with by the end of this story, let me just allay any fears. It's Jack. Jack, Jack, Jack! Jack and Sam forever! Woohoo!
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"Sam, for heaven sakes would you please slow down!" Janet clung to the handle above her door as Sam dodged in and out of lanes at break-neck speed.
Sam glanced in the rearview mirror at the pasty-white faces and wide eyes of her two younger friends and slowed down a bit, forcibly relaxing her grip on the wheel.
"Sorry Jan, it's just that I would be saying 'I do' right now if I'd gone through with the wedding."
"I know. But you're nine hours away from the church. You can relax now. At least let's stop for some breakfast, okay?"
"Okay, you're right. We need a chance to organize our escape plan a little more anyway."
"We have a plan?"
"Didn't I tell you?" Sam's eyes met her friend's raised eyebrows. "We're going to the beach!"
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Sam made her way to the payphone in the parking lot as the rest of her companions trudged under the golden arches of McDonald's in their pajamas, toothbrushes in hand. Yeah, they were going to get noticed.
Since she'd forgotten to bring the charger for her cell phone, she decided she'd better save the power in case the base really needed to get hold of her. She'd debated over who to call. She certainly didn't want to call Pete right now. The General was out of the question. Personal feelings aside, she didn't want to put him in the position of having to order her back to the base. Inserting what change she had with her, she dialed the phone.
"Sam, please tell me that's you!"
Sam jerked the phone from her ear in surprise as he answered before the first ring had finished.
"Um, hey Daniel."
"I'm not even sure what to say. Are you okay? We've been looking all over for you. We checked your house. It looked like you all just picked up and left in the middle of the night."
"Well, we sort of did. Look, it's a long story. Well, not really that long… I just need you to get the box and note that I left on my bed table and give them to Pete. And I wanted you to know we're okay."
"Can you tell me where you are?"
"I've got my cell phone with me. If there's an emergency on the base, you can call me, but if not, then I'd really rather nobody know where we are. I need a few days to think."
"Pete doesn't have to know. You know I'd never break your confidence."
"I know," she ran her fingers through her hair. "Look, if I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone. And I mean anyone."
Daniel agreed.
"We're going to my brother's beach house in California. If you look in my day planner that should also be on my bed table, it's got the address in the back."
"Thank you, Sam."
"How's Pete?"
"I don't know. He left for Denver. I don't think he wants to talk to anybody right now."
"How's Jack?" No sense in using his title now.
"Before or after I convinced him that it wasn't practical to give everyone on the base pay bonuses and the day off."
"Okay," she couldn't help but smile. "Bye Daniel. Oh, and… if you get a chance... tell Pete I'm sorry." She hung up the phone, relieved to be through of the dreaded call.
"Running away to a beach house? I guess that makes sense when you work under a mountain all day."
Sam's hand lingered on the receiver, disbelief willing her not to turn around.
"Agent Barrett? You've got to be kidding me."
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"Sam, I can't believe you invited him along," Cassie hissed, leaning forward so she wouldn't be overheard by the latest addition to the Running Away From Pete club.
"I don't know. He is kind of cute," Jennifer joined the huddle. "Even if he is NID."
Janet was driving now, so Sam was able to turn around in her seat to talk to them.
"He's really a great guy once you get to know him. Besides, he just finished up with a mission in Salt Lake City and needed a break. The more the merrier, right?"
"True," they agreed.
"Okay, he can stay," Janet agreed. "But he's going to have to chip in with the food. I've never seen a Big Mac eaten in three bites before. And let's not even mention the French fries," she shuddered.
"He does have a beautiful voice though," Hailey said, obviously the newest recruit to the Agent Barrett fan club.
Another point they could all agree on.
"I wonder if anyone's eating the cake right now?" Sam mused out loud.
"Sam, you know you did the right thing. We all think so. If you didn't really love him, it wasn't fair to either of you."
"I know. Thanks, Jan. And thanks for coming with me, guys. Running away from a wedding just wouldn't have been the same without you."
And with that, they sat back and enjoyed the drive through Utah as their back seat driver, sunglasses perched on top of his head, strummed "Moon River" on his guitar, his mellow voice lulling everyone but the driver into a peaceful sleep.
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Moon river, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh dream maker, you heart breaker,
Wherever you're goin' I'm goin' your way.
Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting round the bend
My Huckleberry friend
Moon river and me.
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More coming soon! But first, I really do have to study for my history test… Lots of love!
